U.S. patent application number 15/962554 was filed with the patent office on 2019-06-13 for headrest airbag for vehicle.
The applicant listed for this patent is Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation. Invention is credited to Ki Dong Song.
Application Number | 20190176739 15/962554 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 66734488 |
Filed Date | 2019-06-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20190176739 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Song; Ki Dong |
June 13, 2019 |
HEADREST AIRBAG FOR VEHICLE
Abstract
A headrest airbag for a vehicle is provided. The headrest airbag
has an airbag cushion that is deployed forward from a headrest to
surround an occupant's head which minimizes the occupant's head
movement by holding the occupant's head in advance thus protecting
the occupant's head against impact Further, a rear cushion is
deployed backward from the headrest, whereby both a front seat
occupant and a rear seat occupant are safely protected from impact
by preventing an injury caused when the rear seat occupant hits the
front seat
Inventors: |
Song; Ki Dong; (Gunpo,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Hyundai Motor Company
Kia Motors Corporation |
Seoul
Seoul |
|
KR
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
66734488 |
Appl. No.: |
15/962554 |
Filed: |
April 25, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 21/2338 20130101;
B60R 21/207 20130101; B60R 2021/23382 20130101; B60R 2021/23107
20130101; B60R 21/23138 20130101; B60R 2021/23161 20130101; B60R
2021/23146 20130101; B60R 2021/2074 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B60R 21/207 20060101
B60R021/207; B60R 21/231 20060101 B60R021/231; B60R 21/2338
20060101 B60R021/2338 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 8, 2017 |
KR |
10-2017-0168659 |
Claims
1. A headrest airbag for a vehicle, comprising: a pair of airbag
cushions disposed in a headrest, wherein the airbag cushions are
deployed forward from opposite sides of an occupant's head by being
supplied with gas from an inflator, and wherein the airbag cushions
have front end portions that protrude to face each other when
deployed.
2. The headrest airbag of claim 1, wherein each of the airbag
cushions includes: an outer chamber disposed at a side of the
occupant's head when deployed by being supplied with the gas from
the inflator; and an inner chamber disposed in a front end portion
of the outer chamber, deployed by being supplied with the gas from
the outer chamber, and disposed in front of the occupant's head
when deployed.
3. The headrest airbag of claim 2, wherein the outer chamber
includes a plurality of sealing portions that extend in forward and
backward directions and are spaced apart from each other in a
vertical direction.
4. The headrest airbag of claim 2, wherein a diaphragm is disposed
between the outer chamber and the inner chamber, and the diaphragm
includes at least one communication aperture.
5. The headrest airbag of claim 4, wherein the inner chamber
includes a plurality of inner tethers on an inner surface thereof
to limit inflation of the inner chamber by being connected to the
diaphragm.
6. The headrest airbag of claim 5, wherein the plurality of inner
tethers are spaced apart from each other in the forward and
backward directions, and lengths of the inner tethers are gradually
increased in order from a rear inner tether to a front inner
tether.
7. The headrest airbag of claim 4, wherein a vent aperture is
disposed at a front end portion of the inner chamber and the vent
aperture is configured to communicate with an outside, and the
inner chamber includes a closing membrane configured to close the
vent aperture, and a pulling tether having a first end thereof
connected to the closing membrane and a second end thereof
connected to the diaphragm to close the vent aperture by the
closing membrane being pulled when the inner chamber is
inflated.
8. The headrest airbag of claim 2, wherein each of the airbag
cushions further includes: an inner support tether having a first
end thereof connected to an outer surface of the inner chamber and
a second end thereof fixed to the headrest to provide a pulling
force and the inner chamber is pulled toward an occupant side when
the airbag cushion is inflated.
9. The headrest airbag of claim 2, wherein each of the airbag
cushions further includes: an outer support tether having a first
end thereof connected to an outer surface of the outer chamber and
a second end thereof fixed to the headrest to provide a pulling
force and the outer chamber is pulled toward an occupant side when
the airbag cushion is inflated.
10. The headrest airbag of claim 1, further comprising: a housing
disposed in the headrest, with the inflator and the airbag cushions
disposed therein, wherein the inflator is disposed in a center
inside the housing, the airbag cushions are disposed at inner
opposite sides of the housing, and a gas passage that extends from
the inflator is connected to the airbag cushions.
11. The headrest airbag of claim 10, wherein the housing includes a
guide portion that extends forward, with a front portion of the
guide portion being open.
12. The headrest airbag of claim 10, further comprising: a rear
cushion disposed at a rear end portion of the housing, configured
to communicate with the gas passage to be supplied with the gas
from the inflator, and configured to be deployed backward from the
headrest
13. The headrest airbag of claim 12, wherein at least one fixed
tether is disposed in the rear cushion and the at least one fixed
tether has a first end connected to an inner surface of the rear
cushion and a second end connected to the rear end portion of the
housing to limit inflation of the rear cushion.
14. The headrest airbag of claim 12, wherein an-aperture is
disposed at each of opposite ends of the rear cushion and the
aperture is configured to communicate with an outside to discharge
the gas therethrough.
15. The headrest airbag of claim 12, wherein the gas passage has a
first portion that extends toward the airbag cushions and is formed
to be wide and a second portion that extends toward the rear
cushion and is formed to be narrower than the first portion.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELA 1BD APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims priority to Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2017-0168659, filed Dec. 8, 2017, the entire
contents of which is incorporated herein for all purposes by this
reference.
BACKGROUND
Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a headrest airbag for a
vehicle, and more particularly, to a headrest airbag that safely
protect an occupant's head in the event of a vehicle collision.
Description of the Related Art
[0003] Techniques for ensuring safety of occupants are being
developed in addition to driving performance, convenience, and
functionality of a vehicle. Particularly, among various safeguards
being applied to a vehicle, an airbag is being applied as an
effective means for protecting occupants from impact. The airbag
specifically protects a driver and occupants in the event of a
vehicle collision, and typically includes: a collision sensor
configured to detect a collision of the vehicle; a controller
configured to operate the airbag based on a detection result of the
collision sensor; and an airbag module configured to operate the
airbag based on a signal of the controller. The airbag may be
categorized as a driver airbag, a passenger airbag, a side airbag,
a roof airbag, etc., based on installation position of the
airbag.
[0004] However, during an oblique collision in a diagonal direction
in addition to a frontal collision and a side collision during a
vehicle collision, a head escapes from between the driver's seat
airbag and the curtain airbag, and thus, impact may not be absorbed
or unintentional tilting of the head may occur (e.g., the head may
be thrust forward or backward). Further, when a vehicle is
overturned, an occupant's head may collide with another occupant's
head due to inertia, or may hit a crash pad, resulting in a serious
injury. However, since a conventional airbag alone is insufficient
to restrain an occupant's head from being moved excessively, there
is a limit to safely protect an occupant from impact
[0005] The foregoing is intended merely to aid in the understanding
of the background of the present invention, and is not intended to
mean that the present invention falls within the purview of the
related art that is already known to those skilled in the art.
SUMMARY
[0006] Accordingly, the present invention provides a headrest
airbag for a vehicle that safely protects an occupant's head from
impact in the event of a vehicle collision and to prevent bending
or thrusting of a head.
[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, a headrest
airbag for a vehicle may include: a pair of airbag cushions
disposed in a headrest, deployed forward from opposite sides of an
occupant's head by being supplied with gas from an inflator, and
having front end portions thereof protrude to face each other when
deployed.
[0008] Each of the airbag cushions may include: an outer chamber
disposed at a side of the occupant's head when deployed by being
supplied with the gas from the inflator; and an inner chamber
disposed in a front end portion of the outer chamber, deployed by
being supplied with the gas from the outer chamber, and disposed in
front of the occupant's head when deployed. The outer chamber may
include a plurality of sealing portions that extend in forward and
backward directions and spaced apart from each other in a vertical
direction. A diaphragm may be disposed between the outer chamber
and the inner chamber, and the diaphragm may include at least one
communication aperture.
[0009] The inner chamber may include a plurality of inner tethers
on an inner surface thereof to limit inflation of the inner chamber
by being connected to the diaphragm. The plurality of inner tethers
may be spaced apart from each other in the forward and backward
directions, and lengths of the inner tethers may be gradually
increased in order from a rear inner tether to a front inner
tether. The inner chamber may be disposed at a front end portion
thereof with a vent aperture that communicates with an outside, and
the inner chamber may include a closing membrane configured to
close the vent aperture, and a pulling tether with a first end
thereof connected to the closing membrane and a second end thereof
connected to the diaphragm, and thus, the vent aperture may be
closed by the closing membrane being pulled when the inner chamber
is inflated.
[0010] Each of the airbag cushions may further include an inner
support tether having a first end thereof connected to an outer
surface of the inner chamber and a second end thereof fixed to the
headrest, thereby providing a pulling force such that the inner
chamber is pulled toward an occupant side when the airbag cushion
is inflated. Additionally, each of the airbag cushions may include
an outer support tether having a first end thereof connected to an
outer surface of the outer chamber and a second end thereof fixed
to the headrest, thereby providing a pulling force such that the
outer chamber is pulled toward an occupant side when the airbag
cushion is inflated.
[0011] The headrest airbag may further include a housing disposed
in the headrest, with the inflator and the airbag cushions provided
therein, wherein the inflator may be disposed in a center inside
the housing, the airbag cushions may be disposed at inner opposite
sides of the housing, and a gas passage that extends from the
inflator may be connected to the airbag cushions. The housing may
include a guide portion that extends forward, with a front portion
of the guide portion being open.
[0012] The headrest airbag may further include a rear cushion
disposed at a rear end portion of the housing, communicating with
the gas passage to be supplied with the gas from the inflator, and
being configured to be deployed backward from the headrest. The
rear cushion may include at least one fixed tether having a first
end connected to an inner surface of the rear cushion and a second
end thereof connected to the rear end portion of the housing,
thereby limiting inflation of the rear cushion. The rear cushion
may include an aperture (e.g., a through-hole) at each of opposite
ends thereof configured to communicate with the outside to
discharge the gas therethrough. The gas passage may have a portion
thereof that extends toward the airbag cushions and is formed to be
wide and a portion thereof that extends toward the rear cushion and
is formed to be narrow.
[0013] According to the headrest airbag for a vehicle configured as
described, since the airbag cushion may be deployed forward from
the headrest to surround an occupant's head, the occupant's head
movement may be minimized by holding the occupant's head in
advance, and the occupant's head may be protected against impact.
Further, since the rear cushion may be deployed backward from the
headrest, both a front seat occupant and a rear seat occupant may
be safely protected from impact by preventing an injury caused when
the rear seat occupant hits the front seat.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The above and other objects, features and other advantages
of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the
following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a view showing a headrest airbag for a vehicle
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] FIGS. 2 to 3 are views showing the headrest airbag for a
vehicle shown in FIG. 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a view showing an outer chamber according to the
headrest airbag for a vehicle shown in FIG. 1 according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0018] FIGS. 5 to 7 are views showing an inner chamber according to
the headrest airbag for a vehicle shown in FIG. 1 according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and
[0019] FIG. 8 is a view showing a rear cushion of the headrest
airbag for a vehicle shown in FIG. 1 according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] It is understood that the term "vehicle" or "vehicular" or
other similar term as used herein is inclusive of motor vehicles in
general such as passenger automobiles including sports utility
vehicles (SUV), buses, trucks, various commercial vehicles,
watercraft including a variety of boats and ships, aircraft, and
the like, and includes hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles,
combustion, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, hydrogen-powered
vehicles and other alternative fuel vehicles (e.g. fuels derived
from resources other than petroleum).
[0021] Although exemplary embodiment is described as using a
plurality of units to perform the exemplary process, it is
understood that the exemplary processes may also be performed by
one or plurality of modules. Additionally, it is understood that
the term controller/control unit refers to a hardware device that
includes a memory and a processor. The memory is configured to
store the modules and the processor is specifically configured to
execute said modules to perform one or more processes which are
described further below.
[0022] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of
the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and
"the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood
that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this
specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude
the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As
used herein, the term "and/of" includes any and all combinations of
one or more of the associated listed items.
[0023] Hereinbelow, a headrest airbag for a vehicle according to
exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in
more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0024] FIG. 1 is a view showing a headrest airbag for a vehicle
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 2 to 3 are views showing the headrest airbag for a vehicle
shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a view showing an outer chamber
according to the headrest airbag for a vehicle shown in FIG. 1;
FIGS. 5 to 7 are views showing an inner chamber according to the
headrest airbag for a vehicle shown in FIG. 1; and FIG. 8 is a view
showing a rear cushion of the headrest airbag for a vehicle shown
in FIG. 1.
[0025] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 2, a headrest airbag for a vehicle
according to the present invention may include a pair of airbag
cushions 100 disposed in a headrest 10, deployed forward from
opposite sides of an occupant's head by being supplied with gas
from an inflator 12, and having front end portions thereof that
protrude to face each other when deployed. In other words, the
airbag cushion 100 of the present invention may be disposed in the
headrest 10, and a pair of airbag cushions may be provided and
deployed forward from the opposite sides of the headrest 10. The
airbag cushions 100 may be deployed at the opposite sides of the
occupant's head, and may have the front end portions thereof
protrude to face each other when deployed, to be disposed to
surround the occupant's head.
[0026] As described above, since the airbag may be deployed on the
opposite sides of the headrest 10 of the vehicle and surround the
occupant's head, the occupant's head movement may be minimized and
the occupant's head may be protected against impact in the event of
a collision in any direction, such as frontal collision, side
collision, oblique collision, whereby it may be possible to protect
the occupant more safely. In particular, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 3,
the airbag cushion 100 may include: an outer chamber 120 disposed
at a side of the occupant's head when deployed by being supplied
with the gas from the inflator 12; and an inner chamber 140
disposed in a front end portion of the outer chamber 120, deployed
by being supplied with the gas from the outer chamber 120, and
disposed in front of the occupant's head when deployed.
[0027] As described above, the airbag cushion 100 may include a
pair of the outer chamber 120 and the inner chamber 140, and the
outer chamber 120 may be disposed at the side of the occupant's
head when deployed by being supplied with the gas from the inflator
12 in the headrest 10. The front end portion of the outer chamber
120 may include the inner chamber 140 configured to be deployed to
face the other outer chamber 120, and the inner chamber 140 may be
disposed in front of the occupant's head when deployed by being
supplied with the gas from the outer chamber 120. Accordingly, in
the event of a vehicle collision, the occupant's head may be
surrounded by the outer chamber 120 and the inner chamber 140,
whereby the occupant's head movement may be minimized and the
occupant's head may be protected against impact.
[0028] Particularly, as shown in FIG. 4, the outer chamber 120 may
include a plurality of sealing portions that extend in forward and
backward directions and spaced apart from each other in a vertical
direction. The sealing portions 122 may be formed when opposite
surfaces of the outer chamber 120 are sewed together, wherein the
portion where the sealing portions 122 are formed becomes a dead
zone. Accordingly, as the outer chamber 120 may be formed with the
sealing portions 122 to fix the opposite surfaces thereof, bearing
capacity may be generated in the deployed outer chamber 120,
whereby excessive inflation may be prevented. Particularly, as the
sealing portions 122 are formed in the outer chamber 120 by
extending in the forward and backward directions, the gas delivered
from the inflator 12 may be moved forward more smoothly. Herein,
the forming position and the number of the sealing portions 122
formed in the outer chamber 120 may be determined based on the
bearing capacity that the airbag cushion 100 should secure and the
deployment shape thereof.
[0029] Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 3, a diaphragm 160 may be
disposed between the outer chamber 120 and the inner chamber 140,
and the diaphragm 160 may include at least one communication
aperture 162. In particular, the airbag cushion 100 may be divided
into the outer chamber 120 and the inner chamber 140 by the
diaphragm 160, and the diaphragm 160 may be formed with the
communication aperture 162, and thus, the inner chamber 140 may be
inflated after the outer chamber 120 is inflated. Unless the
diaphragm 160 is provided, the inner chamber 140 may be inflated
first prior to the outer chamber 120 being fully inflated, and
thus, the inner chamber 140 may hit the occupant.
[0030] Therefore, since the gas flow rate is adjusted by the
communication aperture 162 formed in the diaphragm 160, the outer
chamber 120 and the inner chamber 140 may be sequentially inflated.
The communication aperture 162 may be disposed at the front of the
diaphragm 160 to allow the gas introduced from the rear of the
outer chamber 120 to sufficiently inflate the outer chamber 120 and
then moved to the inner chamber 140 through the communication
aperture 162. Further, according to deployment timing of the inner
chamber 140, one communication aperture 162 may be provided as
shown in FIG. 4, or a plurality of communication apertures may be
provided as shown in FIG. 5.
[0031] Moreover, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 7, the inner chamber 140
may include a plurality of inner tethers 142 on an inner surface
thereof to limit inflation of the inner chamber 140 by being
connected to the diaphragm 160. Accordingly, since the inner
chamber 140 may be connected to the diaphragm 160 by the inner
tethers 142, the bearing capacity may be generated when the inner
chamber 140 is deployed, whereby excessive inflation may be
prevented. Particularly, the deployment shape of the inner chamber
140 may be determined according to the installation position and
the length of the inner tethers 142, and the deployment shape may
be maintained by the inner tethers 142.
[0032] The inner tethers 142 may form a dead zone of the inner
chamber 140, and as shown in FIG. 4, may be positioned to be
distributed around the communication aperture 162 formed in the
diaphragm 160, or as shown in FIG. 5, may extend in a vertical
direction while being spaced apart from each other in the forward
and backward directions. In other words, the deployment shape of
inner chamber 140 may be formed in various shapes based on the
position, the length, and the number of the inner tethers 142
connected to the inner chamber 140. As shown in FIG. 6, a plurality
of inner tethers 142 may be spaced apart from each other in the
forward and backward directions, and lengths of the inner tethers
142 may be gradually increased in order from a rear tether to a
front tether.
[0033] Accordingly, since a plurality of inner tethers 142 may be
spaced apart from each other in the forward and backward directions
in the inner chamber 140, and lengths of the inner tethers 142 may
be gradually increased in order from a rear tether to a front
tether, the length of an inner tether 142 disposed at the rearmost
side is the shortest, and the length of an inner tether 142
disposed at the foremost side is the longest. Thus, the inner
chamber 140 may have a gradually inclined shape when deployed and
may be deployed to surround the occupant's head since the front end
portion thereof protrudes the longest in the outer chamber 120. As
shown in FIG. 2, the inner chamber 140 may be inflated to have a
deployment shape where the front portion thereof protrudes toward
the front of the occupant's head.
[0034] As shown in FIGS. 6 to 7, a vent aperture 144 may be
disposed at the front end portion of the inner chamber 140 and may
be configured to communicate with the outside. In particular, the
inner chamber 140 may include: a closing membrane 146 configured to
close the vent aperture 144; and a pulling tether 148 having a
first end thereof connected to the closing membrane 146 and a
second end thereof connected to the diaphragm 160, and thus, the
vent aperture 144 may be closed by the closing membrane 146 being
pulled when the inner chamber 140 is inflated. Accordingly, at the
front end portion of the inner chamber 140, the vent aperture 144
may be formed to allow the gas to be discharged to the outside.
When the occupant's head is moved and comes into contact with the
inner chamber 140 while the inner chamber 140 is deployed, the gas
in the inner chamber 140 may be discharged through the vent
aperture 144, whereby an injury caused by the deployment force of
the inner chamber 140 may be prevented, and the shock may be
absorbed.
[0035] Particularly, when deployed, the inner chamber 140 should
support the occupant's head movement. Therefore, the inner chamber
140 may include the closing membrane 146 configured to close the
vent aperture 144, and the pulling tether 148 configured to pull
the closing membrane 146 to close the vent aperture 144 when the
inner chamber 140 is deployed. In other words, at the beginning of
the deployment of the inner chamber 140, the vent aperture 144
remains open, and as the pulling force of the pulling tether 148 is
transmitted to the closing membrane 146 when the inner chamber 140
is deployed, the closing membrane 146 closes the vent aperture 144,
and thus, the gas in the inner chamber 140 may be prevented from
being discharged outside. Accordingly, the inner chamber 140 may be
maintained in an inflated state, and thus, the bearing capacity
that limits the occupant's head movement may be secured.
[0036] In the operation of closing the vent aperture 144 by the
closing membrane 146 and the pulling tether 148, at the beginning
of the deployment of the inner chamber 140, the pulling tether 148
may be loose, and thus, the closing membrane 146 may be separated
from the vent aperture 144. When the inner chamber 140 is then
deployed, the pulling tether 148 is pulled and accordingly the
closing membrane 146 is pulled to come into contact with the vent
aperture 144, whereby the vent aperture 144 is closed.
[0037] Moreover, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the airbag cushion 100
may further include an inner support tether 170 having a first end
thereof connected to an outer surface of the inner chamber 140 and
a second end thereof fixed to the headrest 10, thereby providing a
pulling force to pull the inner chamber 140 toward an occupant side
when the airbag cushion 100 is inflated. Further, the airbag
cushion 100 may further include an outer support tether 180 having
a first end thereof connected to an outer surface of the outer
chamber 120 and a second end thereof fixed to the headrest 10,
thereby providing a pulling force to pull the outer chamber 120
toward an occupant side when the airbag cushion 100 is inflated. In
particular, the connection of the inner support tether 170 and the
outer support tether 180 to the headrest 10 may indicate that the
components are connected to a housing 14 provided in the headrest
10 or connected to a headrest frame.
[0038] In the present invention, the airbag cushion 100 should be
disposed to surround the occupant's head when deployed. However,
when the gas is supplied to the airbag cushion 100 from the
inflator 12, the airbag cushion 100 may be inflated while being
moved in an unspecified direction away from the occupant's head.
When the airbag cushion is distant from the occupant's head, the
amount of the occupant's unintentional head movement may be
increased. Accordingly, the inner chamber 140 of the airbag cushion
100 may be pulled toward the occupant by the inner support tether
170, and the outer chamber 120 may be pulled toward the occupant by
the outer support tether 180, to dispose the inner chamber 140 and
the outer chamber 120 to surround the occupant's head, thereby
increasing the support.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 2, the inner support tether 170 and the
outer support tether 180 connected to the headrest 10 may be
connected to the headrest 10 inwardly toward the airbag cushion
100, and thus, the inner chamber 140 and the outer chamber 120 may
be pulled toward the occupant's head when the airbag cushion 100 is
deployed, thus preventing the airbag cushion from being inflated in
a direction away from the occupant's head. Each of the inner
support tether 170 and the outer support tether 180 may have a
length thereof set to allow the inner chamber 140 and the outer
chamber 120 to surround the occupant's head when the airbag cushion
100 is deployed, and the specific length thereof may be set
according to an expansive force applied when inflated to secure a
bearing capacity.
[0040] Moreover, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, the headrest airbag may
further include the housing 14 disposed inside the headrest 10 with
the inflator 12 and the airbag cushion 100 provided therein. In
particular, the inflator 12 may be disposed at the center inside
the housing 14, the airbag cushions 100 may be disposed at inner
opposite sides of the housing 14, and a gas passage 12a that
extends from the inflator 12 may be connected to the airbag cushion
100. The housing 14 may be disposed inside the headrest 10, the
housing 14 may be fixed to a frame of the headrest 10, and the
inflator 12 and the airbag cushion 100 may be disposed inside the
housing. Additionally, the inflator 12 may be disposed at the
center inside the housing 14 to evenly supply the gas to the airbag
cushions 100 at the opposite sides of the headrest 10, and the
airbag cushions 100 may be deployed toward the opposite sides of
the occupant's head by being supplied with the gas of the inflator
12 from the opposite sides of the housing 14.
[0041] Particularly, the housing 14 may include a guide portion 14a
that extends forward, with a front portion of the guide portion
being open. In other words, the airbag cushions 100 may be disposed
at the opposite sides of the housing 14, and the airbag cushions
100 should be deployed forward. Thus, the guide portion 14a with
the front portion thereof being open may be disposed at opposite
sides of the housing 14 to deploy the airbag cushions 100 forward.
The guide portion 14a extends forward to guide the airbag cushion
100 to be deployed forward.
[0042] Meanwhile, the headrest airbag may further include a rear
cushion 200 disposed at a rear end portion of the housing 14,
configured to communicate with the gas passage 12a to be supplied
with the gas from the inflator 12, and configured to be deployed
backward from the headrest 10. The rear cushion 200 may be disposed
at the rear end portion of the housing 14 and may be deployed
backward by being supplied with the gas from the inflator 12,
thereby protecting a head of a rear seat occupant. The rear cushion
200 may be configured to communicate with the gas passage 12a to be
inflated along with the airbag cushion 100 by being supplied with
the gas from the inflator 12, and may be deployed backward to
absorb shock to prevent the head of the rear seat occupant from
hitting the headrest 10. Herein, the capacity of the inflator 12
may be set to inflate both the airbag cushion 100 and the rear
cushion 200, and a plurality of inflators 12 may be provided to
sufficiently supply gas to the airbag cushion 100 and the rear
cushion 200.
[0043] Meanwhile, the rear cushion 200 may include at least one
fixed tether 220 disposed therein and a first end of the fixed
tether may be connected to an inner surface of the rear cushion 200
and a second end thereof may be connected to the rear end portion
of the housing 14, thereby limiting inflation of the rear cushion
200. Since the rear cushion 200 may be connected to the headrest 10
by the fixed tether 220, bearing capacity may be generated when the
rear cushion 200 is deployed, whereby excessive inflation may be
prevented. Particularly, the deployment shape of the rear cushion
200 may be determined according to the installation position and
the length of the fixed tether 220, and the deployment shape may be
maintained by the fixed tether. Further, the rear cushion 200 may
be disposed at each of opposite ends thereof with an aperture 240
(e.g., through-hole) configured to communicate with the outside to
discharge the gas therethrough.
[0044] As described above, the rear cushion 200 may be formed with
the aperture 240 at each of the opposite ends thereof, to discharge
the gas in the rear cushion 200 outside. Accordingly, when the head
of the rear seat occupant is moved and comes into contact with the
rear cushion 200 while the rear cushion 200 is deployed, the gas in
the rear cushion 200 may be discharged through the aperture 240,
thereby absorbing shock caused when the head of the rear seat
occupant comes into contact with the rear cushion.
[0045] Additionally, the gas passage 12a may have a portion thereof
that extends toward the airbag cushions 100 and is formed to be
wide and a portion thereof that extends toward the rear cushion 200
and is formed to be narrow. In other words, the gas passage 12a may
be formed such that the airbag cushion 100 and the rear cushion 200
are deployed by one inflator 12, wherein gas may be supplied to the
rear cushion 200 first due to the installation position of the
inflator 12. Accordingly, the gas passage 12a may have a first
portion thereof that extends toward the airbag cushions 100 and is
formed to be wide to allow the gas from inflator 12 to be
sufficiently supplied to the airbag cushion 100 and a second
portion thereof that extends toward the rear cushion 200 and is
formed to be narrow to allow the amount of the gas supplied to the
rear cushion 200 to be minimal Accordingly, since the deployment
rates of the airbag cushion 100 and the rear cushion 200 are
adjusted, both the airbag cushion 100 and the rear cushion 200 may
be deployed in an appropriate timing to thus protect the occupant's
head.
[0046] According to the headrest airbag for a vehicle configured as
described, since the airbag cushion 100 may be deployed forward
from the headrest to surround an occupant's head, the occupant's
head movement may be minimized by holding the occupant's head in
advance, and the occupant's head may be protected against impact.
Further, since the rear cushion 200 may be deployed backward from
the headrest, both a front seat occupant and a rear seat occupant
may be safely protected from impact by preventing an injury caused
when the rear seat occupant hits the front seat
[0047] Although an exemplary embodiment of the present invention
has been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the
art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and
substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and
spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying
claims.
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